Spraying apparatus



y 7, 1956 J. J. BAISH 2,755,128

SPRAYING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 17, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 =ln. "'81 l IN VENTOR Jp g/vv J0 TTO EY July 17, 1956 J. J. BAISH SPRAYING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 17, 1953 M I IHI ATTORNEY July 17, 1956 J. J.'BA|SH 2,755,128

SPRAYING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 17, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 I'- INVENTOR y 7, 956 J. J. BAlSH 2,755,128

SPRAYING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 17, 1953' 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 5

7 INVENTOR 6 ATTORNZJ y 7, 1956 J. J. BAISH SPRAYING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 1'7, 1953 mm ILUH. P [a l United States Patent O i SPRAYING APPARATUS John J. Baish, Mechanicsburg, Pa.

Application September 17, 1953, Serial No. 380,735

Claims. (Cl. 299-39) My invention relates broadly to spraying apparatus and more particularly to a self-propelled and readily regulatable spraying apparatus.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a self-propelled vehicle type sprayer for treating crops of various kinds in minimum time and with minimum expenditure of labor.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of spraying apparatus in which the spraying equipment and the driving engine are mounted on a compact chassis arranged to be propelled between the crop rows for spraying the crops.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a construction of spraying apparatus for the treatment of crops in which a chassis capable of clearing crop rows is provided with an assembly of spray tank, driving engine, pump and operator control position so located on the chassis that no obstruction to the growing crops is ofiered as the apparatus is driven along the crop rows while spraying the crops.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a construction of spraying apparatus employing a spray boom capable of being adjusted in position between wide limits for treating crops of various characteristics, such as low growing vines as well as tall stalk crops.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a construction of mobile equipment carrying hydraulic control mechanism for regulating the position of the spray-distributing boomcarried on the chassis of the mobile equipment whereby crops in their various stages of growth may be treated by spraying.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an arrangement of chassis assembly for mobile spraying equipment in which the operator occupies a control position near the top of the chassis well above the spray tank and driving engine in a position for exercising supervisory control over the transmission mechanism, the driving engine, and the spraying apparatus.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in an arrangement of mobile chassis and hydraulic control mechanism for selectively adjusting the position of the sprayboom with respect to the chassis for the treatment of high and low crops as set forth more fully in the specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the spraying machine of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the spraying machine illustrated in Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the spraying machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the spraying machine taken on a horizontal section to illustrate certain of the parts in horizontal section, the view being taken approximately on line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the spraying machine of my Patented July 17, 1956 invention showing the boom raised to elevated position for transportation of the spraying machine, and showing certain of the parts broken away and illustrated in section;

Fig. 6 is a front view of the boom in spread position;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the boom illustrated in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through one of the jointed sections of the boom;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary schematic view showing the yieldable arrangement of the boom as it encounters an obstruction during the advancement of the spraying machine under operating conditions;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view through the chassis of a modified form of spraying machine illustrating the manner in which bracing is applied for reinforcing the machine for operation over rough or uneven terrain;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary rear view of the modified form of chasis illustrated in Fig. 10 and showing the reinforcement braces in position;

Fig. 12 is a schematic view illustrating the manner in which the spraying machine readily passes over and between the crop rows;

Fig. 13 illustrates the schematic arrangement of the hydraulic control mechanism by which the boom is raised and lowered with respect to the chassis of the spraying machine; and

Fig. 14 illustrates the arrangement of the boom cradle control notches for maintaining the boom in selected positions.

My invention is directed to a construction of mobile unit for spraying crops. The unit of my invention is selfpropelled and is so constructed that it may be readily driven between crop rows for distributing a spray over a readily regulatable spray boom. The apparatus of my invention is applicable for distributing emulsion type sprays or atomized mists of fluid which may be either an insecticide for insect extermination or pest control, or alternatively a fluid may be used constituting a liquid fertilizer for the beneficial treatment of crops. The apparatus of my invention comprises a wheeled chassis having a high frame sufiicient to clear the tallest crop which the machine of my invention is intended to treat and having a width sufficient to span the crop rows so that the machine may move under its own power between the crop rows under control of the operator. The driving engine for the mobile unit is controllable to drive the chassis at any one of three speeds and to readily drive forwardly or reversely. The operator may readily steer the chassis to follow the contours of the crop rows. The chassis carries a readily controllable support for a boom assembly so that the boom may be readily changed in position from a low elevation to a high elevation in the treatment of crops of diiferent characteristics. In the lowermost position of the boom a liquid spray may be distributed over low growing crops, such as potato vines, wheat, oats, grass, etc., while in the elevated position of the boom the mobile equipment is used for the treatment of corn crops or other stalk vegetation. The boom is controllable through a hydraulic mechanism which is controlled from the operators position adjacent the top of the mobile unit. This hydraulic mechanism is used to readily raise and lower the boom to meet the crop requirements. The boom is readily foldable from a position substantially the width of the chassis for facilitating transportation to a spread of the order of 30 feet for distributing the spray over adjacent crop rows. I have used the machine of my invention with considerable effectiveness in the treatment of crops of various descriptions and although I have set forth herein certain of the preferred embodiments of my invention, I realize that modifications may be made and I desire that the disclosure herein be considered in the illustrating sense and not as limiting my invention.

Referring to the drawings in more detail reference characters 1 and 2 designate vertically extending chassis supports or legs which carry at their lower ends thrust bearings indicated at 3 and 4 forming journals for the wheel supports 5 and 6. The wheel supports 5 and 6 carry spindles on which are mounted the front wheels represented generally at 7 and 8. Each of the wheels are provided with brake drums designated generally at 9 and 10 which are hydraulically controlled through hydraulic lines which lead from the brake drums, as indicated at 11 and 12, through the main leg braces designated at 14 and 15 and which extend upwardly from lower positions on the main legs 1 and 2 to positions on the tubular framing member 16. There are two of these tubular framing members adjacent the top of the chassis designated, as aforesaid, at 16 and also at 17. These framing members are disposed transversely of the chassis and are braced with respect to the vertically extending legs 1 and 2 by gusset plates designated at 18 and 19 which extend between transverse member 17 and main legs 1 and 2. Similar gusset plates may be provided between braces 14 and 15 and transverse member 16. The transverse members 16 and 17 are interconnected by plates indicated at 20, 21, 22 and 23 which strengthen the chassis and insure a substantially rigid support for the associated frames for the chassis, the spray tank, the operators position, the driving engine and the adjustable assembly for controlling the position of the boom. The plates 21 and 22 which extend intermediate the framing members 16 and 17 form anchor means for the downwardly extending braces 24 and 25 which extend from positions intermediate the main legs 1 and 2 and the associated braces 14 and 15 for further increase in rigidity of the chassis.

The front wheels 7 and 8 are steered by means of steering posts indicated at 26 and 27 which extend the entire height of the main legs 1 and 2 and project from the tops thereof and connect with steering arms 28 and 29, which are in turn connected to the tie rods 30 and 31, which in turn connect to the center steering arm, shown at 32. The steering arm 32 is carried by central steering arm 33 pivoted by means of a double roll ball bearing indicated at 34. Central steering arm 33 connects with a triangular shaped extension represented at 35 forming one welded piece with central steering arm 33. From the apex of the triangular shaped frame 35 represented at 36 a link 37 pivotally extends. The link 37 is pivotally connected with the steering gear arm 38 at pivot point 39 and extends to the steer selector T gear which are represented generally at 40. The T gear is controlled from shaft 41 which is mounted on the steering wheel 42 located adjacent the top of the chassis at the opera tors position.

The operators position is shown over the spray tank designated generally at 43 where the top of the spray tank is immediately beneath the platform 44 on which the operator stands. The platform 44 is centralized with respect to all of th controls which I have indicated as including a clutch lever 45, a gear shift control for speed change indicated at 46, the hydraulic brake control indicated at 47 associated with the master cylinder 55 for the hydraulic brakes, the control valve for the control of spraying indicated at 48, the hydraulic control 49 as sociated with the oil reserve for the hydraulic system shown at 54 for regulating the position of the boom, and the control for the spray pump as represented at 50. I also provide a motor speed control at 51 connected at 52 to the throttle valve of the carburetor for controlling engine speed. The pressure gauge for the spray line is indicated at 53. In addition to these foregoing controls two of the standards forming part of the chassis are provided with V-shaped notches into which cables which control the positions of the folded parts of the boom may be secured as indicated at 70. These control cables are suitably knotted so that the cables may be latched at appropriate intervals for maintaining the parts of the boom in the desired angular positions. All of these controls are contained within easy reach of the op erator.

The spraying machine of my invention is self-propelled by means of engine 56 mounted on the narrow chassis 63 which comprises a horizontally extending portion and a portion extending at substantially 45 thereto, as represented at 63a, and interconnecting the rear of the chassis 63 to the top structure of the chassis. I have found a 9 H. P. air cooled engine sufficient to both propel the spraying machine and drive the spray pump for effecting the spraying operation and also to drive the hydrau lie system for regulating the position of the boom cradle.

The main shaft of engine 56 is indicated at 57 for driving twin pulleys 58 through suitable belts and for driving the spray pump indicated generally at 59. A spray pump clutch is provided at 60 controllable from the control 50 at the operators position. A transmission clutch 61 is provided, controllable from the operators position through rocker plate 62.

A boom cradle 64 is constituted by a parallelepiped formed by lineally extending longitudinally disposed members interconnected by transverse substantially rectangular sections and is pivotally mounted at 640 and 64b to the standard 631) of chassis 63a and may be regulated in position with respect to the chassis and raised from the full line position, represented in Figs. 1 and 2. to the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 1, under control of the hydraulic cylinder 65 which is connected through flexible connections 66 to the control valve of the hydraulic system shown at 54. The hydraulic system 65 is pivoted on chassis 63a at 67 and the crosshead 68 thereof is connected with the boom cradle 64.

The boom cradle 64 carries the boom rack 69 for supporting the spray boom in a transverse position with the sections thereof controllable by cables 71 extendible to the boom cradle control notches 70, as already explained. The boom comprises a multiplicity of sections, that is, a central section 72 and a pair of hingcdly connected end sections 73 and 74 illustrated more clearly in Figs. 69. The sections are tubular and are each provided with spray nozzles, indicated generally at 75, which connect with the hollow interior of the tubular sections. The tubular sections are each supplied with the spray fluid through flexible hose connections shown at 76, 77 and 78, leading to the spray pump 59. The flexible tubular connections have sufficient slack to permit the outer sections of the boom to be folded into the position illustrated in Fig. 5 for facilitating transportation of the equipment to the location at which a spraying operation is to be performed. When the sections 73 and 74 are folded to the position illustrated in Fig. 5 they are maintained in folded position by means of braces 79 and 80, arranged as shown in Fig. 5, with forked arms 79a and 80a serving to receive and steady sections 73 and 74 with respect to section 72 with the cable 71 engaged in the boom cable control notches illustrated more clearly in Fig. 14.

in order to permit the folding of sections 73 and 74 with respect to section 72, hinges 81 and 82 are interposed between the ends of boom section 72 and the under ends of boom sections 73 and 74. In order to stabilize the movement of the boom sections, I provide leaf springs 83 and 84 interconnecting the solid end sections of the boom sections. In addition to the leaf springs 83 and 84 I provide coil springs 85 and 86 interconnecting spaced projecting members 87 and 88, and 89 and 90, arranged on the adjacent end portions of the boom sections. By this arrangement of spring members a stabilized folding and unfolding operation is obtained.

The spraying machine is driven by the central rear wheel 91 journaled in the lower portion of chassis 63 and driven through sprocket chain 92 from the engine 56. As indicated heretofore, steering is controlled from the front wheels 7 and 8. The spatial relation of wheels 7 and 8 and 91 is such that the crop rows may be readily spanned as illustrated in Fig. 12, as the spraying machine advances through the field.

i The spraying machine while being transported from place to place is often subjected to rather severe stresses and strains due to the vertically erect characteristic of the chassis of the machine, and to eliminate the effect of such stresses and strains as much as possible, I arrange braces between the chassis 63 and the vertically extending chassis supports or legs 1 and 2, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. The front of the chassis 63 carries a bar 93 having outwardly directed angularly disposed end portions to which bars 94 and 95 are detachably connected at their inner ends as represented at 93a and 93b. The outer ends of braces 94 and 95 detachably connect with outwardly extending flanges 96 and 97 extending radially from chassis supports 1 and 2. A detachable connection is formed through detachable bolts 96a and 97a. In order to further brace the chassis 63 with respect to supports 1 and 2 additional flanges 98 and 99 extend in more rearward angular positions from supports 1 and 2 and provide detachable connection means for brace bars 100 and 101 which are detachably secured to bolts 100a and 101a. The rearward ends of bars 100 and 101 detachably connect to angle members 102 and 103 secured to opposite sides of chassis 63 and providing detachable connection for the brace bars 100 and 101 through detachable bolts 104 and 105. After the spraying machine is transported to the location in which the equipment is to be operated the brace bars 94, 95, 100 and 101 may be removed if the spraying operation is to be effected upon tall growing crops which must be sprayed by the chassis between the supports 1 and 2 and the central portion of the chassis 63.

During the operation of the spraying machine, obstacles that are encountered may tend to dislodge the position of the boom from its extended transverse arrangement. Such a condition is illustrated in Fig. 9 where boom section 73 is indicated as encountering the obstruction 106. Under these conditions the yieldable leaf spring 83 and the coil spring 85 allows the end boom section 73 to be displaced with respect to the central boom section 72 by operation of hinge 81, as represented in Fig. 9, so that no destructive stresses or strains are encountered if an obstruction, such as depicted at 106, is encountered. Upon removal of any such obstruction the sections of the boom may be restored to their original positions and maintained therein by leaf springs 83 and 84 and coil springs 85 and 86, as illustrated in Fig. 7.

In Fig. 13 I have illustrated, by schematic diagram, the hydraulic system for raising and lowering the spray boom. In this arrangement the hydraulic pump is represented at 59a driven from pulley 59 for controlling the double-acting hydraulic cylinder 65 for raising or lowering the boom under control of the hydraulic control valve 49 which controls the operation of the hydraulic system represented by the oil reservoir 54. By manipulating hydraulic control 49 the boom is raised or lowered or adjusted in position for spraying crops or growths at selected altitudes.

While I have described my invention in certain preferred embodiments, I realize that modifications may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of the equipment and I desire that it be understood that no limitations are intended upon my invention, other than those imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. In a mobile spraying machine, a wheeled chassis, a boom cradle pivotally mounted on said chassis and swingable to selected elevated positions with respect to said chassis, a crosshead associated with said boom cradle and slidably engaging the lower portion thereof, a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly interconnecting said crosshead with said chassis, hydraulic means connected with said hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly for raising said crosshead and the boom cradle connected therewith above said chassis, and a spray boom carried by said boom cradle.

2. A mobile spraying machine as set forth in claim 1 r in which said hydraulic piston is pivoted in a central position laterally of said chassis and wherein said piston is pivotally connected to a central position laterally of said crosshead for elevating said boom cradle when fluid is admitted to one portion of said hydraulic cylinder and lowering said boom cradle when fluid is released from said portion of said hydraulic cylinder and admitted to another portion thereof.

3. A mobile spraying machine as set forth in claim 1 in which said boom cradle is formed by lineal members which extend substantially parallel to each other interconnected by substantially rectangular laterally disposed sections for forming a parallelepiped angularly movable with respect to said chassis, said chassis including an angularly inclined frame, standards erected intermediate the ends of said frame and extending upwardly in a vertical direction, the ends of said members being pivotally connected at one end to said standards whereby said boom cradle may be raised and lowered over said chassis on radii extending from said standards.

4. A mobile spraying machine as set forth in claim 1 in which said boom cradle is formed by lineal members which extend substantially parallel to each other interconnected by substantially rectangular laterally disposed sections for forming a parallelepiped angularly movable with respect to said chassis, said chassis including an angularly inclined frame, standards erected intermediate the ends of said frame and extending upwardly in a vertical direction, the ends of said members being pivotally connected at one end to said standards whereby said boom cradle may be raised and lowered over said chassis on radii extending from said standards, the other ends of said members being connected with one of said rectangular laterally disposed sections, and a boom mounted on the front of said last mentioned section and adjustable upwardly and downwardly with respect to said boom cradle.

5. A mobile spraying machine as set forth in claim 1 in which said spray boom is divided into a multiplicity of hlnged sections and a plurality of control cables confined wthin said boom cradle and movable therethrough for adjusting the angular position of said sections with reference to each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,221,433 Pitner Nov. 12, 1940 2,532,996 Clark Dec. 5, 1950 2,608,327 Bartling Aug. 26, 1952 2,619,379 Skifte Nov. 25, 1952 2,657,093 Kucera Oct. 27, 1953 

